Construction of the new Chick-fil-A that will join the Kohl’s and Freedom Federal Credit Union on Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill is now expected to get started on March 5 with an opening date planned for mid- to late July. The restaurant was originally scheduled to open this March, but Joe Ucciferro of Bohler Engineering who handles Chick-fil-A’s development planning in Maryland said Chick-fil-A decided to delay the construction. He says they have the necessary permits to start work on the project.

The new 5,300 square-foot, 135-seat restaurant is to be built on the corner of Osborne Parkway and Rock Spring Road on a grassy area of about 1.3 acres behind where the brick Forest Lakes neighborhood sign now sits. Ucciferro said the neighborhood sign will remain in its place. No new curb cuts will be created to access the restaurant. Patrons will use the existing entrances off both Osborne Parkway and Rock Spring Road to enter the parking lot and access the Chick-fil-A restaurant and drive through.

Ucciferro said construction is expected to take four to four in a half months, with an opening date expected in July. He said Chick-fil-A offers opening day giveaways with the first 100 people in line to win a year’s worth of free Chick-fil-A meal vouchers. He said customers camp out overnight to be one of the first in the doors when they traditionally open at 6:30 a.m. on a Thursday.

Local rumors had spread that Chick-fil-A would open in the former Roy Rogers restaurant at the Rock Spring Shopping Center. Ucciferro said Chick-fil-A had considered that site, but decided against it. A Verizon Wireless store is now going in that space. The Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning last month issued permits for work that is now under way at that site.

The new Verizon Wireless store joins Planet Fitness, which is also coming to the Rock Spring Shopping Center in the former Spenceola Antiques space along with an expanded Tuesday Morning.